Turtle Wax, a global name in the car care industry, entered the Indian market this year. With its aggressive plans and the ongoing demand for car care products, the company aims at becoming one of the largest care car product suppliers in Doing It Yourself (DIY) segment, besides, establishing a strong presence in Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) space.

According to Sajan Murali Puravangara, Country Manager and Director, Turtle Wax India, the car care industry is an integral part of the automotive industry, and changing buying preference from the mileage, and low maintenance to aesthetics, safety, comfort and features are fuelling demand for car care products.

“India has been witnessing good growth in car sales in last decade, whereas in the last five years, we see traction in the car care industry on account of changing trends or reasons to buy a car. In recent years, the way people look at the car has changed. They buy cars for the looks and features, and that also led to an interest to keep their cars new, tidy and clean; this is bringing demand for car care products. The interest is also coming from the mass car segment. In the last two years, we are getting the indication that the car care industry will be the next sunshine industry in the future,” explained Puravangara.

Turtle Wax, a family-owned company, has been in the car care business for nearly 75 years and operates in over 120 countries. Before establishing its third subsidiary in India, the company has been operating with two subsidiaries- the US and Europe.

India has a population over 1.3 billion and only 22 people out of a thousand own car, while in the US and UK, 980 and 850 per 1,000 individuals have a car, respectively. The massive headroom for the car segment in the next one-and-a-half-decade will trigger further growth for the car care segment in the long term, opines Puravangara.

According to a research report, the current car care industry in India is slightly less than one billion USD and expected to reach $1.44 billion in 2027. Explaining the growth factors, the report says, people usually keep their cars for more than seven years in India, and hence car care products are being increasingly used to restore the paint and for detailing and interiors. Along with this, many car care product manufacturers from Europe and North American markets have their presence in India through e-commerce websites and strong dealership networks. The same report adds that by 2027, the interior car care product segment will be around of $0.73 billion, while the exterior car product market will grow to USD 0.7 billion.

Consumer behaviour, cheap labour, and lack of necessary know-how make the Indian car care industry more challenging for the companies to operate in the DIY space.

In western countries, cars are a part of the family, and family members take basic care. In the US and other developed countries, the DIY segment is about 80 percent of the total car care industry; however, in India, it is of around 30 percent. “In countries like India, due to the hectic work schedule and cheap labour, DIFM dominates in the car care segment. There is always a third person to take basic care of cars in India. Coupled with this, the know-how is fairly lower in India when it comes to basic things such what wax can do to your car and what are the ways to protect cars’ interior and exterior,” Puravangara said.

However, the pandemic in the last eight months has proven useful for the car care segment. “We have seen momentum in the DIY business in the last six months. Since people have been at home, they have a lot of time at their disposal. They find time to take care of their cars. We are also seeing people are increasingly enquiring on different social media platforms on how to take care of their cars and sharing other issues,” he said.

As a part of the strategy to penetrate its products, the company will heavily focus on educating consumers on primary car care and the company’s products. “Being a global leader in the car care industry, it is our top priority to educate people on car care, know-how and our product usages and benefits.”

In the next three to four months, the company will start campaigns on social media channels. The campaign will invite consumers with their queries or to share their experience and issues.

“The company will also bring out videos on how to use our products and use the social influencers on YouTube and Instagram,” Puravangara said.

Though India is seeing a growing number of women behind in the wheel, the car care industry is yet to consider women as their potential customers. However, Turtle Wax understands the role of women in the overall automotive industry and expects the growing number of women car owners evidently will reflect in the car care industry.

To widen its customer base, the company will also promote the car wash as a family celebration where family members will take participate in washing, cleaning and taking care of the car. “Washing and cleaning cars is a family affair in many countries, and therefore the company will be promoting the same in India as well,” added he.

However, external factors that also possess further challenges for car care products. Considering vast territories, different weather, pollutions and scarcity and quality of water put car care product performance under severe pressure. Keeping the external challenges in mind, the company plans to bring in products that are suitable to the Indian markets.

“A larger challenge is not only the availability of water but the hard water which leaves marks on the car. Coupled with this, extreme temperature and dust and pollution affect the car. We are bringing in the products that will take care of cars in the Indian environment. We have asked the company to make products suitable for the Indian market,” said the executive.

Currently, the company offers the products required to clean, shine and protect the car inside out. The product portfolio includes shampoo to clean, wax to shine and various interior cleaners in the form of foam and liquid to clean the interiors of the car. It also offers various speciality products like trim restorer, chrome polish, headlight lens restorer, Odor-X Odor removing solutions, etc. to address specific car care requirements. Turtle Wax also has a ceramic coating that has 10H hardness which gives the high gloss, ultra-hydrophobicity, extreme chemical resistance, UV protection and easy cleaning properties. The company plans to bring in graphene-based ceramic coating solutions, which is the new technology in the car care industry.

The company is planning to bring 75th-anniversary Ceramic Paste Wax in Q1 2021, and will also introduce windshield washer fluid shortly in India. Other products from the company for the India market include all-metal polish that polishes all metal surfaces of the car’s exterior; Glass cleaner to keep the glass streak-free during the ride; ClearVue Rain Repellent that helps get better visibility during the monsoon rains; Trim Restorer since the Trims fades here in India more than the rest of the world and Windscreen washer fluid to remove the dirt and grime from the windshield glass.

The company will also introduce waterless washing products that cater to areas where water is scarce. The company’s waterless wash and wax has advanced polymer technology that lifts dirt to prevent starching, while the enriched wax gives a shiny and protective finish. Its rain repellent formula prevents watermarks and extends time in between cleaning.

The company will also bring in its Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions ICE Seal N Shine, premium car paint sealant. The ICE Seal N Shine gives the car a layer of super-hydrophobic silicone for up to six months of protection against streaks, scratches and swirls.

To set up its network, the company will go through a distribution route and for which it has selected 23 cities, which have larger car density. Turtle Wax India is appointing own distributors in these cities who will take care of retailers and workshops. It has also identified another 48 towns in which it will supply products to dealers who will provide the products in the respective markets.

“We will have our main presence in all metro cities including Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi-NCR, Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai, and additional upcoming cities like Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Cochin, Surat etc,” he added.

The company plans to have about 10,000 outlets by the end of next June. Turtle Wax India has also set up the car care studios in Pune, Bangalore and New Delhi. The studio will be not based on a franchise concept; instead, it will be a co-branded activity. “We provide our products and branding support, but the studios also keep their brand identity,” he said. The company also has plants to have such studios in its 23 cities.

Puravangara declined to share the current revenue and future commercial targets but said sales numbers are increasing with each passing month. Currently, the company is importing its products from global subsidiaries, but he said the company will have a look into setting up local production capabilities. “The way it is going, we will have to do something locally as well. I don’t think we will be able to manage (the demand) with our global support when the demand goes up,” he said.

The company is looking for an option of re-packaging under which it will get bulk products and repack for the domestic market. “We will also see if some India oriented products will be manufactured here, completely. Those options are quite open,” he added.

Many Indians are using hair shampoo sachets to wash cars. When asked whether the company is looking to introduce car wash shampoo in sachets, he said it will not look into sachet option but will be looking to have a bottle of 100 to 200 ml. “We are still looking at those options of small bottles, but per wash, cost increases with smaller bottles,” he added.

Talking on the challenges, he said, it is on finalising the complete product portfolio that suits to the rapidly changing requirements of the Indian market. “We need to keep reinventing on products to be a leader in the market,” he concluded. (MT)

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Two-wheeler and commercial vehicles major Eicher Motors has reported its record financial results for FY2025.

For the quarter ending 31 March 2025, Eicher Motors reported its highest-ever quarterly revenue from operations at INR 52.41 billion, marking a 23.1 percent increase over the same period last year. Quarterly EBITDA rose 11.4 percent to INR 12.58 billion, while net profit surged 27.3 percent to INR 13.62 billion.

Royal Enfield registered its highest-ever quarterly sales during Q4, with 280,801 motorcycles sold, up 23.2 percent YoY.

For fiscal 2025, Eicher Motors reported revenue of INR 188 billion, a 14.1 percent increase over FY2024, EBITDA rose 8.9 percent to INR 47.12 billion, while PAT stood at INR 47.34 billion, up 18.3 percent YoY.

The company also reported that Royal Enfield crossed the 1 million mark in annual sales for the first time in its history, clocking 1,002,893 units, up 10 percent YoY. Domestic sales grew 8.1 percent to 902,757 units, while exports surged 29.7 percent to 100,136 units.

The iconic brand launched six new motorcycles during the year, including the Guerrilla 450, Bear 650, Classic 650, Goan Classic 350, the 2024 Classic 350 (featuring a Factory Custom Programme) and the Scram 440.

Royal Enfield also made its debut in electric mobility with Flying Flea, a city+ EV brand inspired by the 1940s model of the same name. The new EV line-up is set to launch its first product by 2026, blending classic aesthetics with cutting-edge technology.

To strengthen its international footprint, Royal Enfield inaugurated its first fully owned CKD (completely knocked down) assembly plant in Thailand and announced a second CKD unit in Brazil aimed at serving the LATAM region. It also expanded operations in Bangladesh with a new manufacturing facility and flagship showroom.

Eicher Motors’ commercial vehicle arm, VECV, also posted a strong performance in a flat market. It reported annual revenue of INR 235.48 billion, up 7.7 percent from the previous year. PAT rose 57 percent to INR 12.86 billion, while EBITDA stood at INR 20.23 billion. The company sold 90,000 vehicles in FY2025, a 5.4 percent YoY growth.

VECV introduced the Eicher Pro X range – electric small commercial trucks assembled on an all-woman assembly line – as part of its push for sustainability and inclusivity. Volvo Trucks, part of the joint venture, launched India’s first FM Road Train for efficient long-haul logistics and also began deliveries of LNG-powered trucks.

Siddhartha Lal, Chairman, Eicher Motors, said, “We have had a remarkable year at EML and have reported exceptional performance across both Royal Enfield and VE Commercial Vehicles. In the motorcycle business, the middleweight segment saw a lot of action from our peers. Remaining unfazed and maintaining focus on our strategic goals and community, Royal Enfield stood head and shoulders above everyone else to sell one million motorcycles annually, for the first time in its history. With several global award winning and category defining motorcycles now sitting within the Royal Enfield portfolio, we are super excited and confident about the possibilities that lie ahead of us. At VECV also we saw record-breaking volumes and a strong performance despite the prevailing challenging market conditions. What excites me the most is that we have done it all quietly, consistently and with a sense of purpose. We balanced creativity with rigour, legacy and progress in a way that’s unique to our company and I genuinely believe we are just getting started.”

B Govindarajan, MD, Eicher Motors and CEO, Royal Enfield, said, “FY25 was an incredible year for Eicher Motors and Royal Enfield. We delivered our best-ever financial performance and despite a slow start to the year, we built strong momentum in the second half, launching six new motorcycles, achieving a record festive season and seeing healthy demand across all our products. We also strengthened our international footprint, with consolidated exports surging 29.7 percent to 100,136 units and opened new CKD operations. We also marked our entry into electric mobility with Flying Flea, our city+ EV brand that brings together timeless design and modern tech. It’s been a year of growth, resilience and execution and we are excited for what lies ahead.”

Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “VECV continued to outperform a nearly flat industry in FY2025, with vehicle sales growing 6 percent to 90,161 units. Our company closed the year as a market leader in the Indian 5-18.5T Light and Medium Duty truck segment and recorded its highest ever deliveries across key business verticals.”

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Tata Motors Group Chief Financial Officer PB Balaji outlined a bullish roadmap for the company’s growth trajectory, citing strong performance recovery, a vibrant product pipeline and a sharp focus on electric mobility and international market expansion.

Balaji struck an optimistic note on Tata Motors' future, calling out sustained momentum across all three verticals – Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Tata Commercial Vehicles and Tata Passenger Vehicles (PV).

"We are entering FY26 with a strong balance sheet and a clear growth agenda across all businesses,” Balaji said, underscoring that the Group is now structurally and strategically aligned for the next phase of expansion.

He emphasised that Tata Motors’ growth will be ‘product-led,’ particularly in the passenger vehicle segment. New launches – especially in the SUV and EV space – have been pivotal in reinforcing Tata’s market positioning.

In the commercial vehicles segment, Tata is banking on market recovery and improved fleet utilisation. “The freight cycle is showing signs of improvement, and we expect to benefit as replacement demand kicks in,” he noted.

On electric vehicles, Balaji reaffirmed Tata’s dominant stance in the Indian EV market and outlined plans to extend its lead. “The EV strategy is working. We’ve proven the thesis. The next steps will be about scale and ecosystem development,” he said. He highlighted Tata’s ambition to transition from simply selling EVs to enabling an entire EV ecosystem – touching on charging infrastructure, localisation of components and battery recycling as critical next steps.

JLR's transformation was another highlight of Balaji’s outlook. The British marque has returned to healthy margins and is now positioned to scale profitably, thanks to a focused approach on premiumisation, disciplined capital allocation and electric architecture development. “JLR has turned a corner—it’s about consolidating gains and investing in future-ready platforms,” he stated.

In addition, Tata Motors is eyeing growth outside India, particularly in the ASEAN and African regions. “We’ll continue to invest in markets where we see sustainable long-term potential,” he said.

Balaji also stressed Tata Motors' disciplined capital deployment approach, indicating that future investments would be ‘self-funded through strong cash flows.’ Debt reduction remains a high priority, even as CAPEX is strategically allocated.

Calling the next two years ‘defining’ for Tata Motors, Balaji summed up the strategy, “The next 24 months are defining for us as a group across the three businesses. We have tailwinds, we have the execution muscle and we are focused. Now is the time to accelerate.”

Financial Performance

Tata Motors reported record consolidated revenues of INR 4,396 billion for FY2025, marking a 1.3 percent YoY growth. However, net profit declined by 11.4 percent to INR 278 billion, impacted by margin pressures across key business segments.

Significantly, the Tata Motors Group turned net auto cash positive during the fiscal, closing FY2025 with a net cash balance of INRR 10 billion – a key milestone in the company's financial turnaround strategy.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) recorded Q4 FY25 revenues of GBP 7.7 billion, a decline of 1.7 percent YoY.

In the domestic commercial vehicles (CV) segment, wholesale volumes stood at 99,600 units in Q4 FY25, down 4.8 percent YoY. Exports, however, surged 29.4 percent YoY to 5,900 units. Total CV revenue declined marginally by 0.5 percent YoY to INR 215 billion, mainly due to lower volumes. Nevertheless, the business delivered improved profitability, with EBITDA and EBIT margins rising to 12.2 percent (up 20 bps YoY) and 9.7 percent, respectively – driven by better realisations.

In the passenger vehicles (PV) segment, Q4 volumes were at 147,000 units, down 5.5 percent YoY. Revenue fell 13.1 percent YoY to INR 125 billion. The EBIT margin came in at 1.6 percent, impacted by both lower volumes and realisations. However, this was partially offset by cost optimisation measures and government incentives.

The company also highlighted profitability in its core and electric PV portfolios. The internal combustion engine (ICE) PV business delivered an EBITDA margin of 8.2 percent in Q4, while the electric vehicle (EV) business remained EBITDA positive at 6.5 percent.

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Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), has been honoured with the 2025 Industry Leadership Award by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Foundation. The recognition was presented at the 27th Annual SAE Foundation Celebration held in Pontiac, Michigan, an event that pays tribute to industry leaders whose careers have inspired future generations of innovators.

Toyoda was recognised for his visionary leadership and transformative impact on the global mobility landscape. Serving as President and CEO of TMC from 2009 to 2023, he played a pivotal role in steering the company through a dynamic period of technological evolution. As Chairman, he continues to champion innovation, sustainability, and the development of a future-ready workforce.

In honour of Toyoda’s recognition, Toyota Motor North America announced a USD 1 million donation to support SAE’s A World in Motion (AWIM) program. The initiative introduces students to STEM education through hands-on experiences that develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for the mobility industry.

This contribution complements the efforts of the Toyota USA Foundation’s Driving Possibilities initiative, which aims to enhance STEM learning and career readiness in Pre-K through 12th-grade schools across the U.S. Together, the AWIM and Driving Possibilities programs will serve nearly 24,000 students and provide STEM education training to approximately 700 teachers in key communities.

“Toyoda’s passion for driving excellence extends beyond the automotive industry. His commitment to education and Toyota’s investment in STEM programs like AWIM will leave a lasting impact on students and future engineers,” said Jamie Ferguson, Executive Director of the SAE Foundation & STEM Learning.

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The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) today released its April 2025 vehicle retail data, revealing a moderate overall growth of 3 percent YoY.

The two-wheeler segment emerged as the primary growth driver, registering a 2.25 percent increase in retail sales compared to April 2024 and a significant 11.84 percent MoM growth. FADA attributes this positive momentum to strong rural demand. However, the sector continues to face headwinds in the form of high financing costs and the pricing impact of OBD-2B emission norms.

The tractor segment demonstrated robust growth, with a 7.5 percent increase in retail sales year-on-year. This strong performance likely reflects the positive sentiment stemming from a strong Rabi harvest, which typically boosts agricultural activity and consequently, tractor demand.

In contrast to the strong performance of two-wheelers and tractors, the passenger vehicle segment experienced a modest 1.55 percent YoY growth, while witnessing a slight dip of 0.19 percent on MoM basis. The auto retail body attributes that deep discounts are prevalent in the market and while the demand for SUVs remains strong, the entry-level segment continues to exhibit sluggishness. FADA also noted that the PV inventory levels are currently around 50 days, significantly higher than their advocated norm of 21 days.

The commercial vehicle segment faced a contraction, with retail sales declining by 1.05 percent YoY and 4.44 percent on MoM basis. FADA suggests that recent price hikes by OEMs and flat freight rates are negatively impacting sales. Within the CV segment, the Small Commercial Vehicle category saw weak demand, while the bus segment remains steady.

Looking ahead to May 2025, FADA anticipates a positive outlook, primarily driven by the strong conclusion of the Rabi harvest. The expectation of a normal monsoon further strengthens this positive sentiment, suggesting continued momentum in rural demand which could positively influence vehicle sales across various segments.

In a significant development, FADA has begun releasing fuel-wise vehicle retail market share data across all key categories. This new initiative aims to provide stakeholders with a granular understanding of evolving energy preferences and the impact of regulatory influences on India's automotive ecosystem.

C S Vigneshwar, President, FADA, said, “The new financial year began on a measured note as overall retails in April managed to grow by 3 percent YoY. All categories except CV closed in the green, with 2W, 3W, PV and Trac up 2.25 percent, 24.5 percent, 1.5 percent and 7.5 percent respectively, while CVs declined by 1 percent. With the tariff war paused, stock markets staged a sharp pullback – alleviating investor concerns – and customers thus leveraged Chaitra Navratri, Akshay Tritiya, Bengali New Year, Baisakhi and Vishu to complete purchases, helping April end on a positive note.”

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